Sturkenboom Ingrid, Dekker Jos, Scheppers Emmanuel, van Dongen Els, Dekker Joost
Medical Anthropology Unit (MAU), Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Disabil Rehabil. 2007 Feb 28;29(4):323-32. doi: 10.1080/09638280600756760.
This pilot study aimed to address the social context of rehabilitation by exploring the perspectives of family members regarding rehabilitation of female immigrant patients with a chronic pain condition.
In-depth semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with family members of nine patients. The interviews were transcribed and subsequently coded and analysed according to themes.
All participants acknowledged that their respective relative experiences pain. Pain is considered a symptom of the malfunctioning body and different explanatory notions are given. Participants regarded medication, warmth, rest or gentle exercise to be appropriate treatment options. Most participants had limited awareness of, and involvement in, rehabilitation. The role of family members in illness management lies mainly in providing advice and in taking over or assisting in domestic activities.
The importance of considering the patient's social context and involving family in the treatment process is indicated in the literature. However, awareness of the aim and content of rehabilitation was limited among most participating family members as was their involvement in the rehabilitation process of their relative. It is recommended that further research needs to look at factors influencing involvement of family members before effective strategies for involving family members of patients of various socio-economic and/or cultural backgrounds can be developed.
本试点研究旨在通过探索家庭成员对患有慢性疼痛疾病的女性移民患者康复的看法，来探讨康复的社会背景。
对9名患者的家庭成员进行了深入的半结构化面对面访谈。访谈内容被转录，随后根据主题进行编码和分析。
所有参与者都承认他们各自的亲属经历过疼痛。疼痛被认为是身体机能失调的一种症状，并给出了不同的解释概念。参与者认为药物治疗、保暖、休息或适度运动是合适的治疗选择。大多数参与者对康复的认识和参与程度有限。家庭成员在疾病管理中的作用主要在于提供建议以及接管或协助家务活动。
文献表明考虑患者的社会背景并让家庭参与治疗过程很重要。然而，大多数参与的家庭成员对康复的目标和内容的认识有限，他们对亲属康复过程的参与程度也有限。建议在制定有效策略让不同社会经济和/或文化背景患者的家庭成员参与之前，进一步研究影响家庭成员参与的因素。
